jimherb, in this case, yes... but what if he had not been alone? She was out of ammo.

That is my takeaway. She expended her six at close quarters, and while she stopped the one guy, he probably would have been able to return fire if he had been armed. After all, he was still able to get up, walk to his car, and drive a short distance.

Lesson one: handgun rounds are marginal, but some are even more marginal - such as .38 from a snubbie.

Lesson two: it is never a bad idea to have more ammo, or a second gun.

She was lucky that he was alone and unarmed. (Edit: I think he had a crowbar, so it is more accurate to say he did not have a ranged weapon.)